Police 'unaware' of Frances Andrade's overdoses

The inquest into the death of a former Guildford music teacher heard that prosecutors and police in Manchester were unaware of her overdose attempts in Surrey between May 2012 and the trial in January 2013

Greater Manchester Police did not know a former violin teacher who died in a suspected suicide had repeatedly tried to overdose in Surrey before giving evidence about the sexual abuse she suffered, an inquest has heard.

Frances Andrade, a mother-of-four, died at her home in Guildford on January 24 last year after taking an overdose of drugs.

The 48-year-old, a violin teacher at St Catherine's School in Bramley for eight years, is believed to have taken her own life after giving evidence about her former choir master Micheal Brewer abusing her.

Brewer's ex-wife, Kay, 68, was jailed for 21 months after she was convicted at the same trial of indecently assaulting Mrs Andrade when she was 18.

The inquest in Woking in Friday July 11 heard that prosecutors and police in Manchester were not informed that Mrs Andrade had overdosed on multiple occasions between May 2012 and January 2013, when she appeared in court.

The inquest has been told the condition of Mrs Andrade was known by her GPs at St Luke's Surgery in Guildford, an NHS Community Mental Heath Recovery Service team (CMHRS), and Surrey Police, which carried out the initial interview on behalf of the Manchester force and also spoke with her after one overdose attempt.

Mark Callaghan, a Crown Prosecution Service North West divisional prosecutor, told the inquest: "We knew Fran was keen to face her abusers in court and we knew she wanted the case to proceed. We didn't know she had been in hospitalised in the proceedings."

Manchester officers learned that Mrs Andrade took overdoses of sleeping tablets in April and May 2012 but were in the dark about her more serious overdoses in October, December of that year and January 2013, when she used Insulin.

Mr Callaghan described Mrs Andrade as a "strong and compelling witness" when she gave evidence, but said: "We didn't have any information at that stage that she was at risk."

Mr Callaghan said police would have met with Mrs Andrade and got medical advice about whether to go ahead with her court appearances if they knew the extent of the overdoses.

He told the inquest: "If a witness or the victim is in serious danger to their health as a result of the prosecution continuing it is likely that the prosecution would be stopped.

"Perhaps in this case it was made clear at the outset that the prosecution would not succeed if Fran was not supportive.

"Obviously the views of the victims are a very important factor in whether a case should proceed. Fran did not, despite the overdoses, at any stage indicate she did not want the case to proceed."

The inquest heard that Mrs Andrade learned shortly before she died that five of the charges against Brewer were dropped, finding out through the national press not police officers or lawyers.

Mr Callaghan admitted a decision was made not to inform Mrs Andrade - but without knowledge of her "fragile health".

He said: "The decision regarding dismissing these charges was not based on Fran's credibility.

"The majority of charges were still going ahead including the most serious charge, the concern (over the dismissed charges) was about Fran's lack of clarity over her age at the time (of offences)."

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She has been editorial director of the online and print titles in Surrey and north-east Hampshire since 2007. Marnie previously worked at the BBC as a producer for 5 Live, having moved to national radio from BBC Sussex and Surrey.